Newport Folk Festival Day 1

by Bob Boilen

Within a few minutes of arriving on the grounds of the Newport Folk Festival, I encountered a bit of a legend. Bob Jones has been coming to the festival almost since it began, and he had some great stories to tell. He talked about the workshops that went on during the day (the concerts were mostly at night back in the '50s and '60s). He talked about seeing bluesman Skip James, and about how James' guitar playing included some diminished chords and made a sound he hasn't ever forgotten. We also talked about seeing Dylan in '63 and '64, and then the infamous electric show of '65.

Friday night, I went to the Tennis Hall of Fame (who knew it was in Newport? who knew there was a Tennis Hall of Fame?). It was there I saw Brian Wilson. So surreal: people dancing on the grass tennis courts, complete with tennis gestures, while "California Girls" played. It was a greatest-hits show, with only one song from his upcoming new solo record. Some lyrics about shutting his eyes when he was 25. Wilson seemed a little more present -- no Teleprompters -- but it was odd how disconnected he is from it all, at least from his body language and demeanor. He's the opposite of charismatic, but all that dissipates when you hear his stunning 12-piece band carry the songs.

The closest we got to folk music was "Sloop John B" -- which, of course, was a folk tune, West Indies in nature, recorded by Alan Lomax. It was first popularized by The Weavers and then in 1966 turned into a hit by The Beach Boys.

When "Barbara Ann" kicked in toward the end of the set, I had to leave. I felt as if I were on the set of one of those baby-boomer concerts; it was all too much.

Jim James, She and Him, Steve Earle and Jakob Dylan all perform tomorrow.

9:30 PM ET | 08- 2-2008 | permalink

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